Light-Giver of the Dawn (ALIVE in Des Moines Version)

[Applause settles; slow, warm grand-piano chords] [Spoken introduction - Vox, gentle conversational speech over quiet piano; pause naturally between sentences] We just sang about a dawn we can trust. Augustine tells his friends not to despair of finding truth—and points them to Jesus’ promise: ‘Seek, and you will find.’ Let’s carry that hope into a prayer. This is our adaptation of an ancient Christian morning hymn, asking Christ to drive the darkness from our hearts. [Let the words settle; a complete gentle piano phrase before singing] [Verse 1] Light-giver of the breaking dawn, Your steady radiance leads us on; The night departs, the shadows fade, A new day blooms in light You made. [Pre-Chorus] You wake our hearts with holy fire— The dark retreats, the flames rise higher. [Chorus] Light-giver of the dawn, shine in our soul; Brighter than the sun, You make us whole. Drive out the night, let every fear be gone— Rise in our hearts, O Light-giver of the dawn. [Verse 2] Not like the star of fleeting ray That only hints the coming day, But brighter than the world’s full sun— You are the light that can't be undone. [Pre-Chorus] Your warmth breaks through our hidden fears, Your radiance fills our deepest years. [Chorus] Light-giver of the dawn, shine in our soul; Brighter than the sun, You make us whole. Drive out the night, let every fear be gone— Rise in our hearts, O Light-giver of the dawn. [Instrumental Bridge] [Verse 3] Through daily tasks our hands must meet, Let us walk pure, let love be sweet; Keep every thought from turning wrong— Make holiness our morning song. [Chorus] Light-giver of the dawn, shine in our soul; Brighter than the sun, You make us whole. Drive out the night, let every fear be gone— Rise in our hearts, O Light-giver of the dawn. [Final Chorus] Light-giver of the dawn, shine in our soul; Brighter than the sun, You make us whole. Drive out the night, let every fear be gone— Rise in our hearts, O Light-giver of the dawn. [Third Closing Chorus - audience joins softly; Vox leads; piano opens into warm sustained chords] Light-giver of the dawn, shine in our soul; Brighter than the sun, You make us whole. Drive out the night, let every fear be gone— Rise in our hearts, O Light-giver of the dawn. [Let the final sung phrase and piano cadence resolve fully; lingering room resonance, then warm applause]